American Airlines jet, descending into Cali, Colombia, crashes into a mountain. Jury holds maker of flight-management system 17% responsible. A report by the University of Bielefeld in Germany found that the software presented insufficient and conflicting information to the pilots, who got lost.

1991

28

Software problem prevents Patriot missile battery from picking up SCUD missile, which hits U.S. Army barracks in Saudi Arabia.

1985

3

Software-design flaws in Therac-25 treatment machine lead to radiation overdoses in U.S. and Canadian patients.